Fence post construction



Oct. 21, 1958 J. c. coLToNx FENCE PosT CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 22, 1954 United States Patent O FENCE POST CONSTRUCTION JosephC. Colton, Alexandria, Va. Application November 22, 1954, Serial No. 470,178

3 Claims. (Cl. 20-99) This invention relates to fence posts, and more specically, the invention pertains to fence posts for board fences.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a fence and fence posts therefor which when erected will present the same appearance when viewed from its opposite sides.

A further object of this invention is to provide a board fence and posts therefor which may be quickly assembled and disassembled.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fence post which is inexpensive to manufacture, non-complex to assemble, and durable in use.

Other and further objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the following specification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a plurality of fence posts constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the vertical plane of line 2-2 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a side elevation in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the fence post illustrated in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a front elevation of a lock shaft.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the lock shaft shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a side elevation, partly in cross-section, taken on the vertical plane of line 7-7 of Figure 8, looking in the direction of the arrows, and illustrating a second embodiment of this invention.

Figure 8 is an end elevation of the fence post shown in Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a top plan view of the fence post shown in Figure 7.

Figure l0 is a side elevation, partly in cross-section, of a further embodiment of this invention, and taken on the vertical plane of line 10`10 of Figure 11.

Figure 11 is an end elevation, partly in section, of the post illustrated in Figure 10.

Figure l2 is a cross sectional View taken on the horizontal plane of line 12-12 of Figure 10, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 13 is an enlarged fragmentary detail end elevation of the fence post illustrated in Figure 7, illustrating the manner in which all of the fence posts disclosed herein are secured together. l

Referring now more specifically to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawing, reference numeral 10 designates, in general, a fence post constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention. As illustrated therein, the fence post 10 comprises a pair of spaced, parallel and vertically extending substantially rectangular members 12, 14 preferably formed of wood, though other suitable materials may be employed if desired. The members 12 of the fence post shown 2,856,652 Patented Oct. 21, 1958 ICC and 14 have interposed therebetween a pair of spaced substantially parallel spacer blocks 16, 18 adjacent the lupper ends thereof, and a plurality of elongated substantially rectangular spacer blocks 20, 22 adjacent each marginal edge thereof. As shown in the drawing the spacer blocks 20, 22 are horizontally and vertically aligned. An enlarged substantially rectangular spacer block 24 is interposed between the members 12, 14 at the lower ends thereof, the upper end of the spacer block 24 being spaced downwardly from the lower ends of the adjacent pair of spacer blocks 20,V 22. Y

The members 12, 14, the spacer blocks 20, 22 and 24 are secured together by lag screws 28 in the manner shown in Figure 13. As shown therein, the post member 14a is rst bored inwardly from the outer side thereof to provide a plurality of recesses 30 for the heads 29 of the lag screws 28a. Thereafter, the recesses 30 are filled by wooden dowels 32 to conceal the heads 29 from view.

Referring back to Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, the fence post members 12, 14 are adapted to receive therebetween the ends of a plurality of wooden boards 34 which rest on and are supported by the upper ends of the `spacer blocks 20, 22, and 24. The boards 34 are inserted from opposite sides of the post 10 and the adjacent ends thereof are spaced from each other to form, in conjunction with the space between each pair of horizontally aligned spacer blocks 20, 22, a continuous passage 36 adapted to slidably receive an elongated substantially rectangular lock shaft 38 having a at substantially rectangular handle 40 at its upper end. As illustrated in the drawing, the handle has a lower portion thereof which is disposed between the members 12, 14 and rests on the upper ends of `the spacer blocks 16, 18.

In erecting a board fence in accordance with this invention and employing a number of fence posts 10, it is necessary that the width of the lock shaft 38 be slightly greater than the length of the end portions of the boards 34 whereby upon remo-val of one of the lock shafts 38 the fence boards 34 in that respective fence post 10 will permit the boards to move into the space vacated thereby, whereby the other ends of the boards are withdrawn from the adjacent post 10, and movement in the other direction will effect a withdrawal of the boards from the first post.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the lower end of the post 10 may be encased in a suitable base 42 of cement set in a post hole 44 formed in the ground 46.

A. lot dividing fence post is generally indicated by the reference numeral 50 in Figures 1, 7, 8, and 9, and cornprises a second embodiment of this invention. The divider post 50 is similar to the post 10 and consequently elements of divider post 50 which nd counter parts in the post 10 are distinguished therefrom by the addition o-f the reference letter a.

The divider post 50 comprises a pair of spaced, parallel and vertically extending substantially rectangular members 12a, 14n. The members 12.61 and 14a have disposed therebetween a pair `of spaced substantially parallel spacer blocks 16a, 18a which are positioned adjacent their respective upper ends, and a plurality of elongated substantially spacer blocks 20a, 22a adjacent each marginal and 24a are secured by lag screws 28a in the manner shown in Figure 13. The member 14a is provided with a plurality of recesses 30 which are adapted to receive the heads 29a of the lag screws 28a. Thereafter the recesses 30 are lled by wooden dowels 32 to conceal the heads 29a from View.

The post member 12a is provided with a plurality of elongated substantially .rectangular mortice 52 which are adapted to receive one end of a third set of fence boards 5.4.

As in the previous embodiment, the post members 12a, 14a are .adapted t-o receive therebetween the ends of a plurality of wooden boards 34a which rest on and are supported by the upper ends of the spacer blocks 20a, 22a and 24a.

Referring now more specifically rto Figures 1, 10, 1l and 12, the fence post 6() illustrated therein comprises acornerpost for a board fence. The corner post 60 is very similar to the preceding embodiment of this invention and reference numerals which are common to each maybe differentiated in the latter embodiment by the addition of the reference letter b.

The essential distinction between the divider post 50 and the corner post 60 resides in the elimination of the spacer blocks along o-ne side of the post 60 and the substitution therefor of an elongated substantially rectangular filler rod 62.

In all cases, the surfaces of all of the spacer blocks and the exposed surface of the filler rod extend ush with the adjacent sides of their respective posts whereby the posts 10, 50 and 60, when linished, as by painting, present a substantially solid unitary appearance.

Having described and illustrated a plurality of embodiments of this invention in detail, it will be understood that they are oiered merely by way of example, and that the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is .claimed is:

1. In a rail fence of the type having vertically spaced horizontal rail boards, a fence post comprising a pair of upright parallel spaced apart members, a plurality of vertically separated spacer blocks positioned between said members along one vertical edge thereof, a second plurlity of vertically separated spacer blocks positioned between said members along the yother vertical edge thereof, said rst plurality `of spacer blocks and said second plurality of spacer blocks being arranged in horizontally spaced relation with the adjacent spacer blocks in each of said pluralities being horizontally aligned, said horizontal spacing between said members and the vertical spacing between said spacer blocks providing7 openings to receive the ends of said rail boards, means securing said members and said spacer blocks together, and a lock shaft engaged between said members and between said rst and second plurality of spacer blocks for locking said rail boards between adjacent posts.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lock shaft kis provided with a T handle secured to thev upper end thereof.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one `of said members is provided with a plurality of vertically spaced aligned mortises extending therethrough to receive the ends of said rail boards.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 154,776 Warren Sept. 8, 1874 293,726 Faucher Feb. 19, 1884 2,039,879 Brown et al. May 5, 1936 2,365,397 Dickman Dec. 19, 1944 2,557,002 Lathrop June 12, 1951 2,669,434 White Feb. 16, 1954 

